Nexus 6 Problems Plague Release Of Google’s Latest Android Flagship

After the Nexus 6 received price cut on Play Store, Amazon and Best Buy are also offering it with $150 discount. Photo: Jamie Lee Wagner / Youtube

Google is slowly, but surely, releasing the Nexus 6 on a number of carriers, and users are reporting a number of problems with its first Motorola-produced smartphone. Some pre-ordered Nexus 6 models shipped with faulty software, while others came scuffed and scratched.

Google’s Nexus program is meant to show off what the company’s stock Android software can do, without any carrier bloatware and tinkering from smartphone manufacturers. It’s latest is doing a poor job thus far, as the most expensive Nexus to date has been released with its fair share of problems, especially for users on AT&T.

Manufacturer Motorola Mobility shipped a number of non-functioning Nexus 6 models to AT&T customers who pre-ordered the device. Some savvy users realized that some Nexus 6 models, made to showcase Android L, had shipped with an older version (Android 4.4 KitKat).

Customers were told to return the devices and Motorola asked AT&T to recall ones that had not yet shipped out. Motorola later released a statement on the matter:

“We delivered a small number of Nexus 6 smartphones with incorrect software to AT&T customers who preordered. The incorrect software prevents the phone from starting up properly. We will provide replacements for consumers whose phones are affected. The problem has been corrected and the phones currently shipping are fine.”

Other customers reported that their devices came with cosmetic imperfections, including scuff marks and scratches on their rear case. Models shipping from both Google Play and AT&T were affected, XDA users reported.

The Nexus 6 model that ships on AT&T also comes SIM-locked, meaning the device cannot be easily switched to another carrier, without an unlock code from AT&T, Android Police reports. The AT&T Nexus 6 also checks whether customers have paid for tethering data before it can be used as a hotspot, and ships with the carrier’s ringtones. These stipulations are common on many smartphones, but Google has never before included them on one of its Nexus models. AT&T customers seem to be having the most issues with the Nexus 6, but the carrier was also the first to begin shipping the smartphone to customers.

A number of features appear to have been considered for implementation in the Nexus 6, but were pulled from the device before it began shipping. That includes a tap-to-wake feature that appeared in Android code for the Nexus 6, but does not work on the device. Motorola’s whale of a phone also has an LED built into the earpiece that users can’t interact with, or use for notifications without rooting the device.

A larger issue with Android L that will affect all smartphones running the new operating system is the method Google is using for encryption. The security feature is meant to block any bad actors from snooping on your smartphone, but it has the side effect of slowing down Android L devices, especially the time it takes to access storage, Anandtech reports. The site tested encryption on a Nexus 5 running Lollipop, but say it will likely have the same effect on any smartphone running the OS.

Did you purchase the Nexus 6? Have any issues? Has it been smooth sailing? Kindly let us know in the comment section.